1. Background of this Psalm of David: “When Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba”.
2. David’s requests:
a. “Create in me a clean heart (51:10).
“Blot out my transgressions” (rebellion, willful sin, 51:1).
“Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity” (perverse, twisted mind, 51:2).
“Cleanse me from my sin” (missing the mark, falling short, 51:2).
We can only imagine what David missed by falling short, but he reveals the consequences in his life of doing so:
“My sin is ever before me” (51:3).
“The bones which you have broken” (51:8; 32:3-4).
b. “Renew a right (upright, steadfast) spirit within me” (51:10).
David’s sin caused him to have a deceitful spirit in trying to cover up his sin (2 Samuel 11:5-15).
c. “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation ....then I will teach transgressors your ways and sinners will be converted to You”
(51:12-13).
Psalm 32 is the sequel to this request:
“Blessed is the man whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered...to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity” (32:1-2a).
“In whose spirit there is no guile” (32:2b).
“When I kept silent, my bones grew old” (32:3-4).
“I said. ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord’, and You forgave the iniquity of my sin” (32:5).
“Many sorrows shall be to the wicked ; but he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him” (32:10)
“Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous” (32:11).
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:9).